“I only want to be here if you’re here,” I confess, taking the last few strides to reach her. My eyes bore into hers. “I know this isn’t your scene and that you’re uncomfortable. I get it. I’m not going to force you to go back in there, but I know there’s something else bothering you. Talk to me,” I plead.
She stares up at me, contemplating. Then she takes a step back, and another. “I’ll see you Monday,” she repeats, her voice almost a pained whisper.
You’re losing her, my mind screams at me.Do something!
Watching her hightail it to her car, I go into panic mode.
Brain on the fritz, I check my surroundings to think of something, anything, to get her to stop. I look to my right and spot a couple of guys perched against the wall, sharing some beers. Without a second thought I snatch a bottle from one of their hands and down the remaining contents.
“What the fuck, man?” the guy yells.
Once I’m finished, I let the bottle fall from my grasp, the glass shattering as soon as it hits the concrete.
Olivia spins around, her eyes landing on me.
I steal another guy’s beer, downing the contents and dropping the bottle like the last one. Then another.
Olivia looks at me, baffled. Like I’m insane.
Maybe I am.
Hell, here I am, going to drastic measures to not let her leave like this, without talking to me and telling me what else is bothering her.I think that automatically puts you in the insane category, moron.
But I need her to talk to me.
I stride up to her. “I need a ride home,” I say, knowing she won’t be able to turn me down. She won’t chance letting me drive with alcohol in my system.
Her shoulders sag. “Bronx,” she sighs, overwhelmed.
I know what I’m doing is manipulative and wrong, but I swear my intentions are good. I can’t have her run away like this on bad terms.
“Please, Finch?”
Silently, not tearing her gaze away from mine, she hits the Unlock button on her key fob, the rear-end lights softly illuminating her face for a moment as they blink. She turns and walks to the driver’s-side door and opens it, and just when I think she’s going to leave my dumb ass behind, she looks over her shoulder at me expectantly, waiting.
I waste no time reaching her passenger-side door, opening it and slipping inside the vehicle. A fresh, clean scent engulfs me, and I spot the air freshener clipped to one of the air vents. I observe the rest of the interior of her car, noting how clean and pristine it is.
Olivia gets behind the wheel, turns on the engine, and cranks up the heat. Wordlessly, we both put on our seat belts and she slowly, cautiously, backs out of the parking space and turns onto the main road.
It’s quiet as she drives to campus, the tension between us like a rope tied around my neck. In the intimacy of the dark, in her small car, I struggle to find the right words. I know I’m running out of time as we approach the campus at a steady pace.
“Where’s your jacket?” she asks, her voice cutting through the silence, startling me.
Huh?
I look down at my body and realize I must have left my jacket back at the club, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips, despite the rather serious situation.
“I must have left it back at the club.”
A frown etches her features, making me smile more. Only she would care about that right now.
“Finch, pull over.”
“What?” She steals a glance at me, looking at me like I have three heads.
“Pull over.”
No questions asked, she pulls into an empty parking lot, staring at me.
